Chapter 53

"In this form, I can do anything! With Yin-Yang techniques, barrier techniques, and special abilities, I can use all kinds of skills freely!"

The man, transformed into Kousuke's form, dissolved the ground while firing scatter flames and kept his distance from Kuro and the others.

"I won't let you escape! Everyone, lend me your strength!"

"Here! Take this!"

To block the escape route, the corpses of the animals Sei controlled surrounded the man, and Coro's wings descended like swords.

"It's futile."

The man glanced at the approaching swords and calmly activated his special ability. He enhanced his nerve transmission speed with 'Enhancement' and dodged the black swords that rained down at high speed. He neutralized the surrounding group of corpses with 'Flying Slash' hand strikes.

"I don't like this form of my master!"

"Kaka-ka!"

Ling and Shiro, seizing the slight opening after the dodge, launched their attacks.

"It's a 'Triple Barrier'!"

However, the man remained unperturbed by Ling and Shiro's attacks and deflected the flying slashes and shock waves with a triple barrier.

"Hmm..."

Kuro analyzed the man's actions using the 'Pseudo-Perception' ability, which mimicked the 'Perception' ability.

"Although the precision and power seem inferior to my master's techniques... it appears that, like my master, the depth of his spiritual energy is invisible."

"My master was the same. If he really has an inexhaustible supply of spiritual energy, it's troublesome."

Wako, standing beside Kuro, also calmly analyzed the scene. However, the two of them did not notice another presence approaching from behind.

"Quite an interesting story. If it's true, your master might be of the same lineage as us."

"!!"

At the sound of the voice, the two immediately took a step back and alternately looked at the man in Kousuke's form and the man who had approached from behind.

"Why are there two of you!?"

"There are special abilities that allow the creation of duplicates."

Wako's question was answered with a smug response from the man.

"By the way, I haven't introduced myself yet. My current name is Chrome. I am a transformation magician currently affiliated with the 'Twilight and Dawn Gang'... or so it seems."

"Or so it seems?"

Kuro, hearing Chrome's words, voiced her doubts.

"Yes. The transformation magician is just a disguise. My true form is a chosen being granted special power by a god. I am a divine apostle!"

"There doesn't seem to be any sign of lying..."

While listening to Chrome's words, Kuro used 'Pseudo-Perception' to verify their truth.

"If you're telling the truth, I don't understand the meaning. What is your ability? What is your purpose!?"

While looking for an opportunity to retrieve the evil god's heart, Wako questioned Chrome.

"My ability, or rather, the power of the blessing, is as I've shown. I can use all the techniques and abilities of the form I take."

"Blessing...?"

"Yes. It's a power from another dimension that only those loved by the gods can use. Incidentally, my blessing is called the 'Blessing of a Thousand Transformations.' Isn't it cool!"

During the conversation, Wako, noticing Kuro's gaze, quietly shook her head. Kuro had asked Wako for confirmation about the term 'chosen by the gods,' considering the possibility that her master might also have a blessing. However, Wako, like Kuro, was unaware of the existence of such a power.

"Then, what is your purpose? It's simple: 'to enjoy.' I stole the evil god's heart to make the current situation even more interesting. I'm revealing my plans because it seems more fun this way."

While continuing the conversation, Kuro and Wako felt uneasy about Chrome's calm explanation of his abilities and purpose.

"To enjoy...?"

"Yes. I thought the evil god's heart would make things more interesting if added to the current situation. I'm revealing my plans because it seems more fun this way."

Angry at the theft of the evil god's heart, Wako created countless fine barriers like needles and launched them at Chrome.

"Barrier needles, huh? I can barely dodge... Oh!"

Kuro, in response to Wako's attack, activated 'Pseudo-Dissolution,' a mimic of 'Dissolution,' to liquefy Chrome's footing. As the barriers descended, Kuro transformed into a golden lion to engage in close combat.

"I'll finish him in close combat."

"Got it."

Kuro, transformed into a red-haired woman, found her feet buried when Wako's attack and 'Pseudo-Dissolution' were neutralized. Seizing the opportunity, Kuro moved to close combat to finish Chrome.

"It seems this is the end."

However, Chrome, without resistance, allowed the barrier needles to pierce his body. Kuro and Wako, expecting him to defend himself, were stunned by the unexpected outcome.

"Kuro, look! I've defeated him!"

"Wako-sama! I've defeated the enemy!"

Immediately, they turned to see the duplicate of Chrome, who had been fighting in Kousuke's form, being defeated and gradually turning into soil.

"Impossible!"

Turning back, they saw the original Chrome, pierced by the barriers, also turning into soil.

"Damn, we've been had!"

Realizing that both Chrome entities were duplicates and the real Chrome had already left with the evil god's heart, Kuro and Wako understood the situation.

"There's no reaction from my 'Pseudo-Perception.' He's probably hiding using some special ability or technique."

"Understood... Even if it's futile, I'll order a search. Iwa! Contact the security company we're affiliated with and set up a perimeter!"

"Understood!"

Iwa took out a smartphone and contacted the security company under Wako's management.

"Hmm..."

Wako, once revered as a mountain god at the edge of Kamigokutan, now operated as a businesswoman. Despite the change, Kuro continued to use 'Pseudo-Perception' to maintain vigilance around the area.

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Fairy Seed.

This seed, which produces the most suitable fairy for the user, has two characteristics.

The first is that it produces a fairy with the most suitable attribute for the user. A mage with a fire affinity will have a fire fairy, and a mage with multiple affinities will have a fairy with multiple attributes.

The second is that it produces a fairy similar to the user's physical characteristics and traits. A mage skilled in barrier techniques will have a fairy interested in barriers, and a mage skilled in mana manipulation will have a fairy skilled in mana manipulation.

Uru, a spirit born from the Fairy Seed, exhibited these characteristics even more prominently.

"Here I go! 'Triple Barrier'!"

The threatening learning ability granted by the god was also inherited by Uru. Uru can construct all the techniques used by Kousuke individually.

"I can use this too. 'Scatter Flames'!"

Nia, surprised by Uru's ability to use techniques, channeled the mana threads into the golem.

"Next, please set up a barrier."

"Sure! 'Triple Barrier'!"

The laid-back Uru, while channeling the vast mana collected from nature into Nia, built the triple barrier and scatter flames according to the instructions.

"What are you two doing?"

On the desk in Kousuke's room.

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Nearly 50 steel golems, more than half of which had already turned into mere iron sand, stood before Felm. Felm, unable to accept the reality before him, stood in shock.

"Why... why is this happening?"

The beginning of the incident was a single steel golem whose control had been taken. This golem, with its impressive martial arts, had overwhelmed multiple steel golems. However, despite losing several golems, Felm gradually gained the upper hand through sheer numbers.

But just as the battle reached its midpoint, an unbelievable phenomenon occurred.

"Why are the golems... using techniques...?"

The golems suddenly began to cast barriers to protect themselves. Not only that, as the battle progressed, they started to fire scatter flames and even release flying slashes.

"I've never seen golems deploy techniques like this!"

"It's theoretically possible, but can it actually be done!?"

The scene shocked not only Felm but also Aul and Junna.

"Beyond just taking control... deploying techniques through mana threads... impossible."

Felm, realizing the skill of the mage he faced, was taken aback. Taking control of golems was already a sign of a high-level mage skilled in mana manipulation. To deploy techniques through thin mana threads, using the golems' bodies, which have different operational characteristics and senses from one's own, required a god-like level of mana manipulation skill.

"Monster..."

Bewildered by the god-like skill, Felm reactivated 'The History of Steelmaking.' The remaining steel golems and surrounding iron sand merged into a massive iron block, transforming into a giant golem.

"I'm going all out!"

Felm, using mana threads, gave instructions to the giant golem.

"Crush them!"

Following Felm's command, the giant fist, as large as a large vehicle, was raised to strike the steel golems.

(Probably, this attack will be dodged... but I won't let them escape.)

Felm, understanding that this level of attack wouldn't finish the golems, wrapped the giant fist with countless fine wires. If the fist was dodged, the wires would entangle and hinder the golems' movements.

"Is this...!?"

But the result was unexpected.

"The fist... crushed them?"

Felm, who had thought that this level of attack wouldn't finish the golems, was stunned. The steel golems were crushed without resistance by the giant iron fist.

"Why...?"

"What's going on?"

Staring at the crushed steel golems, Aul and Junna also voiced their confusion. However, their doubts were quickly resolved.

"That was a bad move."

"!?"

Immediately, a voice echoed in Felm's mind through the mana threads connected to the giant golem.

"Can't be!"

Understanding the meaning of the words 'bad move,' Felm tried to give orders to the giant golem, but it was too late.

"Control... taken..."

At the moment the giant fist struck, the mana threads were transferred from the steel golems to the giant golem, stripping Felm of control. The giant golem, now under the control of the mage, quietly looked down at Felm.

"My... loss..."

Felm gathered the iron sand, which had changed shape into a robe, and gradually compressed it.

"I'll... retreat..."

Felm, glaring at the mage through the giant golem, released the compressed, high-temperature iron onto the ground. The reaction between the ground's moisture and the red-hot iron caused a small steam explosion, obscuring the giant golem's vision and serving as a smokescreen to hide Felm's escape.

"I won't lose... next time."

Leaving those words, Felm left the scene.

'?'

Why did the name Junna Mizukami come up at the end?

Nia, with this question in mind, looked at Aul and Junna through the giant golem.

(What should I do... If I explain it poorly, it might get even more complicated...)

After a moment of hesitation, Nia quietly cleaned up the iron sand in the parking lot and left the scene.

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